Animal Welfare in Humanitarian Crises and Conflict Zones
War, famine, and displacement crises create severe animal welfare emergencies affecting companion animals, livestock, and wildlife, with dedicated humanitarian animal welfare organisations increasingly active in conflict zones.
Key Facts
The war in Ukraine prompted one of the largest animal rescue operations in recent history, with millions of pets evacuated or abandoned and hundreds of thousands of livestock affected
FOUR PAWS, World Animal Protection, and Humane Society International have emergency response capabilities for companion and livestock animals in crisis zones
Abandoned companion animals in conflict zones face starvation, disease, and trauma — rescue operations must navigate active conflict while respecting humanitarian priorities
Livestock that cannot be moved during conflict face abandonment, theft, or deliberate targeting as an economic warfare strategy affecting civilian food security and animal welfare simultaneously
Wildlife in conflict zones experiences habitat disruption, increased poaching as economic desperation grows, and direct collateral damage from military activity
Traditional cultural practices of animal care often break down under displacement stress, with negative welfare consequences for animals whose owners can no longer provide care
Recovery of livestock populations and companion animal welfare after conflicts is important for community psychological recovery as well as animal welfare
Welfare Considerations
Animal welfare in humanitarian crises occupies a challenging ethical space: human lives and welfare are the primary concern in genuine emergencies, yet the suffering of animals — particularly companion animals bonded to displaced people and livestock essential for post-crisis food security — is real and sometimes preventable with modest additional resources. Organisations working on animal welfare in crisis zones operate in this tension with increasing professionalism and coordination with human relief agencies. The link between animal welfare and human wellbeing in these contexts is direct: people who cannot save their animals experience additional psychological trauma; communities who lose livestock face food insecurity that extends the humanitarian crisis.
What You Can Do
Donate to organisations including FOUR PAWS, World Animal Protection, and Humane Society International emergency response programmes
Advocate for animal welfare to be included in humanitarian crisis planning and response frameworks
Support policy development requiring military forces to have animal welfare protocols during conflict operations
Engage with refugee and displacement organisations about including pets in emergency housing and transit planning
Share information about animal welfare in humanitarian crises to build awareness and donor support
Support organisations providing post-conflict livestock recovery assistance to affected farming communities
Advocate for international humanitarian law development that addresses animal welfare in conflict zones